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Voters in Queens and Brooklyn will go to the polls on Tuesday, June 26, to choose nominees for Congressional seats up for grabs in the November election.

In the weeks leading up to the contests, the Times Newsweekly/Ridgewood Times will feature in this column press releases and statements sent by the campaigns of the candidates on the ballot.

The statements in this column do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Times Newsweekly/Ridgewood Times or its staff. Mud-slinging statements which include personal attacks on candidates are omitted.

Crowley Officially Enters House Race

City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley entered the race for the open Sixth Congressional District last Thursday, Mar. 22, with a kick off announcement at the Unisphere in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Joined by family, friends, and supporters, she presented her vision for Congress.

“As a daughter of Queens, from a young age I felt the calling of public service. Throughout my career I have strived to help make this city a better place to live, work and raise a family,” Crowley said. “The very values that keep our communities safe, that protect our seniors and that help our families prosper need to be assured on a national level.”

She vowed to be a voice that fights to protect services like Social Security and Medicare, to encourage job growth by investing in our infrastructure, provide educational opportunities, protect women’s rights and access to healthcare, and to strengthen the nation’s security against the threat of terrorism.

Crowley’s family, like many other in Queens, experienced struggles, and she said these experiences instilled in her the values of vital programs.

“Over the coming months this campaign will be knocking on every door throughout the neighborhoods of this district,” Crowley said. “And with your continued support I will go on to fight in Washington for our middle class families.”

Food Workers Union Endorses Lancman

Assemblyman Rory Lancman was endorsed by the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), UFCW, giving him his first labor endorsement in the campaign for New York’s Sixth Congressional District.

RWDSU represents 100,000 U.S. and Canadian workers in retail, foodprocessing, and other industries, with 40,000 members in New York City.

“Rory Lancman has been one of the most aggressive and effective advocates for working people in New York," said Stuart Appelbaum, president of RWDSU. “Our endorsement of his candidacy sends a clear message: Rory is the candidate of working people in this Congressional race.”

Lancman said he was humbled by the endorsement and was proud to be the first candidate in the race with organized labor support.

“I've dedicated my career in public life to fighting for the things that matter to working New Yorkers, and it's a great honor to have the backing of RWDSU and organized labor in this race,” Lancman said. “Together, we can take back Congress from those who have been tilting the economic playing field away from middle class and working people for years.”

Maloney Gets Good Conservation Grade

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, who last week launched her bid for re-election in New York’s new 12th Congressional

District (parts of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Roosevelt Island), earned a perfect rating from the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund for her commitment to wildlife and habitat conservation during the first session of the 112th Congress.

The Defenders of Wildlife graded Maloney on her work to battle repeated attempts by House leaders to roll back long-standing environmental protections.

“I'm proud to have earned a 100 percent rating from Defenders of Wildlife, which is one of America’s most steadfast advocates for protecting our environment,” Maloney said. “New Yorkers may live in the most densely populated urban areas in the nation, but we stand with Americans all across the country when it comes to protecting our wildlife and leaving a clean, healthy world for future generations.”

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As noted, only voters who are registered with a party may vote in that party’s primary election on June 26 (Democratic voters may only vote in the Democratic primary; Republican voters may only vote in the Republican primary, etc.). There will also be a Republican presidential primary on Apr. 24 open to Republican Party members.

For more information on voting or to obtain a voting registration application, contact the New York City Board of Elections at 1-212-VOTENYC or visit www.vote.nyc.ny.us.

Press representatives of candidates may send their information to this paper by fax to 1-718-456-0120 or e-mail to info@times newsweekly.com. All releases are subject to editing.